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Bolingbrook – Liz Winter knows what it’s like to be at work and suddenly remember that her son’s bagged lunch was left behind on the kitchen counter.

That’s life as a working mom.

When her kids were little, Winter picked up overnight shifts and worked on the weekends registering patients at Adventist Hinsdale Hospital so she could be around when her kids needed her during the week. Through the years, Winter has risen to the position to director of patient access at Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital. Today her kids are in high school and she oversees a staff of 25 employees. But she still fills in wherever she is needed.

“There are a lot of moms on my staff and I know family comes first,” said Winter, a Romeoville resident. “If someone calls in sick for the midnight shift, I’ll jump in and work it. I know what it’s like. I have an awesome team and I help them out whenever I can.”

For her commitment to her employees and to the Adventist Midwest Health’s mission of extending the healing ministry of Christ, Winter received the organization’s pillar award at a recent leadership development institute.

Winter started working for Adventist Hinsdale Hospital back in 1998 registering patients in the emergency department. She heard about the job from her dad, a Metra conductor who picked up train riders outside the hospital. Winter has been with Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital since the building opened back in 2008. Today she’s in charge of the hospital’s financial counselors, cashiers, hospitality desk and registering patients in the emergency department – a department that is open 24 hours a day.

She leads by example and not just from behind her desk. Besides hosting potluck lunches for her staff, Winter also encourages them to sign up for local 5K races as a team. In fact, last year, Winter lost more than 30 pounds in a hospital-sponsored healthy living contest. She won free health insurance for a year – a prize valued at more than $1,200.

“I have eight people on my staff signed up already for the March 16 St. Paddy’s Day race,” said Winter, pointing to a list of local races that take place in 2013. She plans on running in more than 10 races herself this year.

Winters’ employees know she has their backs, said Mike Murrill, vice president and chief financial officer at Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital.

“Liz and her team are the front door to our hospital,” Murrill said. “They help patients with everything from complicated billing questions to simple directions to the cafeteria. And even though Liz is actively involved in many activities she always has time for her employees. It’s clear to our patients and visitors that her employees are happy to come to work every day.”

Winter lives in Romeoville with her two children, Autumn, 16, and Nathan, 15.